LL Cool J
A federal judge granted default judgment to LL Cool J, a rapper whose real name is James Todd Smith, enjoining concert promoter Guerrilla Union from using the trademark “Rock the Bells.”
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Rapper Nipsey Hussle Shot to Death in LA
Nipsey Hussle, the skilled and respected rapper who earned a Grammy nomination this year for his major-label debut and was greatly respected in South Los Angeles where he grew up, has been shot to death, authorities said. He was 33.
Read moreGangland News Fills Niche You Won’t See on TV
Shawn Cotton no longer drives his $55,000, bright pink Corvette to work because he’s afraid it could get him killed, like his friend. But there are two things he won’t leave home without: his bulletproof vest and the 9 mm pistol he slips into his pocket.
Read moreNBA Jerseys Styled After Notorious B.I.G. Draw Fire From Coogi
A sweater manufacturer is crying foul in federal court over the NBA’s attempt to honor Notorious B.I.G., claiming the league and retailers appropriated copyrighted designs that the late rapper popularized.
Read moreBusta Rhymes
Suing under the name Trevor George Smith Jr., rapper Busta Rhymes claims in court that Rasheem “Bubba” Barker skimmed half a million bucks from booking fees.
Read moreSinger Akon Sued by Music-Video Cameramen
Two cameramen sued R&B singer Akon in Michigan state court, claiming members of his crew held them at gunpoint and forced them to hand over music video footage to avoid paying them.
Read moreMusic Producer Seeks Accounting of His Heavily Sampled Hits
Jazz-funk producer Mtume sued Sony Music on Tuesday, demanding an accounting for several records he made for Epic Records in the 1970s and 1980s, including the heavilysampled club hit “Juicy Fruit.”
Read moreHip-Hop World
Faheem Rasheed Najm pka T-Pain claims Konvikt Entertainment owes him an accounting of royalties due for his first four albums and his advance of at least $200,000 for his completed fifth one, in Fulton County Superior Court.
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Heavy Rotation, a booking agency, claims Michael Ray Stevenson pka Tyga owes it $741,000 for breaching contract on concerts in the Middle East, in L.A. Federal Court.
Read moreMigos Apparel
YRN LLC, which takes its name from the debut album “Young Rich Nation” by Migos, claims in court that the hip-hop group violated the noncompete clause of their licensing deal.
Read moreWu-Tang Producer
A Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated producer professionally known as 4th Disciple claims in court that RZA and the rapper’s brother, Mitchell Diggs, owe him royalties.
Read moreWoman Claims R. Kelly Intentionally Infected Her
A woman claims hip-hop singer R. Kelly “intentionally infected” her with a sexually transmitted disease while grooming her to join his alleged “sex cult.”
Read moreRap Mogul Suge Knight’s Ex-Lawyers Arrested in Los Angeles
Two Los Angeles attorneys who represented former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight were arrested Thursday on warrants alleging they were accessories after the fact to a felony, authorities said.
Read moreTrey Songz Under Fire, Fan Alleges Cellphone Slap
A VIP event featuring R&B star Trey Songz turned violent for a Philadelphia woman, she claims in court, saying the “Na Na” performer slapped her across the face while trying to stop her from snapping pics with her cellphone.
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Sentencing of Rapper Meek Mill Draws Out Al Sharpton
Calling for the judge who sentenced rapper Meek Mill to step aside, the Rev. Al Sharpton said a broken criminal-justice system is to blame for Mill’s imprisonment.
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Suge Knight’s Fiancee’s Bail Cut From $2 Million to $500K
The fiancee of former rap mogul Marion “Suge” Knight was granted a slight reprieve Wednesday when a judge reduced her $2 million bail to $500,000 on charges of violating a court order by selling video evidence to TMZ.
Read moreFetty Wap Added Insult to $240K Injury, Woman Claims
A woman whom Fetty Wap claims to have fired for theft is now suing the rap artist, saying he defamed her and owes nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
Read moreExperts Decry Increasing Use of Rap Lyrics in Criminal Trials
A Southern California sociologist says she’s seeing an alarming trend of prosecutors using rap music lyrics in the prosecution of violent crimes, and points to one prosecutor who had a handbook that said using rap lyrics in criminal prosecution should be a “go-to” option.
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